Automatic Voter Registration project
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WQ.411/2025
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE CHAIR OF THE PRIVILEGES AND PROCEDURES
COMMITTEE
BY DEPUTY R.S. KOVACS OF ST. SAVIOUR
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 2025
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 10th NOVEMBER 2025
Question
"Will the Chair provide an update on the implementation of the Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) project, including –
- why Parishes have posted out forms to their residents this year to register to vote;
- whether AVR will be operational in time for the June 2026 election, and if not, why not; and
- why the project budget, as set out in the Proposed Budget (Government Plan) 2026–2029 (p. 66), has been revised down from a previous total of £974,000 to a "Total Project Approval" of £747,000?"
Answer
Members will recall that when the draft legislation associated with this project was brought for debate on 13th May this year, in order that it could be adopted outside of the 12 months preceding the next elections, the Assembly decided to refer the matter back to PPC. The Committee then lodged an amendment to provide election candidates access to the new register for canvassing purposes via a separate candidates list'. The consequence of delaying the debate was that, once approved on 24th June 2026, the Draft Elections (Electoral Registers) (Jersey) Amendment Law 2025 was not able to receive Privy Council approval until late last month.
- Although the States had approved the legislative changes, the existing legislation requiring Parish Authorities to send out an annual statement was still in force last month, and the eligibility criteria of 2 years residency was also still applicable at that time. The Parishes were therefore required to comply with the Law and send out the statements. Islanders are encouraged to return their forms, but there will be information published early in the New Year explaining all of the recent changes to the Elections legislation, outlining how the new system will work and highlighting how voters will be able to check their registration status online;
- the Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) project is on track to deliver a new electoral register early in 2026, well in advance of the June elections; and
- the project has been delivered well within the Budget envelope anticipated and therefore some funds from the underspend in 2024, have been returned to the Treasury.